[Hm. What else could make somebody bleed like that outside combat or murder? Will the mysteries never cease?

Suffice to say, that thought just gets shrugged off right then and there. Congrats, Syr, you're safe.

Otegine's back with a wetted cloth soon enough, plopping down to a seat next to him on the couch.]

Here. Maybe you can wash up a little more when you've got some strength back.

[...]

Anyway. The bad news is mostly just... who actually won your application. [A hand goes up, briefly.] It's not Trahearne. He kept his word on that much.

[Sort of.]

Mishka.

[So like... not the absolute nuclear option, but GIVEN THE PREVIOUS DAY? Aaaaaaaaa.]

I didn't have time to step in and take it myself. He came in pretty close to the end...

[Well, and Otegine had Trahearne at that point. And having both of them together felt like the worst idea possible.]

He tried to ask me on a date in the middle of all that mess, Syr, how am I supposed to know what in the world he's thinking???

[People are already confusing... why is Mishka just a big ball of Extra...]

He dropped a huge bid on somebody else, too, right at the last second. And then just... left after that. None of you were there, so I don't get what he was trying to accomplish.

Probably not. I wouldn't blame either of you at this point.

At least there's some good news, though. Uhh, hold on, it was in the mail--

[Let him go grab that real quick, thank god they have a table now. When he plops back down onto the couch, he's got a bunch of cruise paperwork, including several tickets that he holds up.]

These showed up today, for the auction results. Two for me, and two for you.

I won two bids, and, uh... well, someone won mine, too. [Good thing you weren't here earlier, Syr. :)] But I definitely didn't get three.

My guess is that... maybe we don't have to do all of these at the same time? The boat looks like it's gonna be here for the whole week.

I'd say maybe you could conveniently misplace the ticket, but, uh... I wouldn't trust the goddess to not retaliate something like that.

[A beat, and he just awkwardly claps a hand against his shoulder. That's rough, buddy.]

Sorry.

[Oh dear.

He goes quiet for a long moment. Opens his mouth, closes it, goes a little red out of some unreadable mix between embarrassment and odd frustration, and then just.... slowly puts his face in his hands.

Muffled:]

It's... complicated.

[He just nods.]

I, uh... I got Pyra.

[Which he is very, very happy about, and he can't help the smile in his tone despite how tired he is. He just has to think about how to explain the rest...]

Trahearne and I talked for a while after you left. And just to keep him from ending up in more hot water, I... bid on him, too. Just... you know, as someone that he doesn't feel obligation to get connected to. And I, uh. I won that one, too.

[Understandable.]

Mn. I just... felt it wouldn't help matters to leave it alone. And if I had to trust one or the other of you to hold yourselves together with a stranger given all that... maybe I'm just biased, Syr, but until Mishka showed up in your bids, I had figured you would manage it just fine. [He's just. Not gonna mention that Trahearne ALSO had a bid floating around for a while. That seems unwise.]

At least if it can help the two of you have some space... I don't mind.

[He sighs, letting the moment sit in silence for a bit rather than choosing for any rebuttal. He's not here to discount Syr's feelings, nor to defend Trahearne. They'd have to figure that out on their own.]

...He really owes you an apology. None of what he chose to do was right, or fair, or treating you with any sort of respect.

I... know I don't need to ask if you're okay or not. [Because he can see Syr's very obviously angry, and Otegine imagines he will be for a while.] Just... let me know if there's anything I can do.

Mn. I already took care of the chickens and everything, so.. you know, don't worry about that much for today.

[His head jerks up a bit when the kettle starts to whistle, and he just gives Syr's knee a quick pat before sliding back up towards the kitchen.]

I'm guessing you and Adelis had plenty to get off your chests respectively, given everything. I'm glad you've got each other.

I don't think there's many of us that could have done so with any kind of... grace, I guess. It was kind of you.

[He's so happy to see his roommate with friends.......... good job, roommate, go enjoy your social life.]

Were you able to talk, or was it not really much of a night for discussion and more for the liquor?

Hah... a big difference between loosening the lips and just having a lot of regrets later, I guess. I'm glad you made it back on your own two feet.

[Given that Syrlya probably wants to be asleep more than not, Otegine's at least been nice enough to choose a tea without caffeine. Not as great for the hangover in a pinch, sure, but might as well let Syrlya have some sort of win today.

He drags one of the dining room chairs with him since end tables are for people with ~space~, if only to give Syr somewhere to set his growing collection of cups. The tea is set down carefully, Otegine looking over his roommate with a quiet, pensive expression.

...]

Do you think you'll need to tell him? About Mishka, I mean.